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Cymro

Gaidhlig and the Media

This is a rant against the BBC mainly.

Overall the BBC is probably the best media body especially when it comes to services in Galidhlig (and Welsh). However I have noticed the very little story space given to developments with the languages within the news section.

In the BBC Wales News section we have a Welsh language news section with news items of interest. I quite often come across news items in Welsh involving Language Legisltation here in Wales and other types of positive (and negative) developments with the Gaelic language in Scotland. However, I am never able to come across any news items aimed at the majority population - the non Gaelic (or Welsh) speaking Scots people.

It's these people that need to be made aware of developments involving the Gaelic language. Even if it is just to encourage debate on whether the Gaelic langauge should be protected or not.

The most recent example of the BBC is a story on Cymru'r Byd (the Welsh Language News Section) about a visitor centre near Inverness commemorating the Battle of Culloden which will have the Gaelic language as a key part of it's exhibitions. Quite an interesting artilce - describes the battle as being the beginning of the demise of the Gaelic language etc but this is not available in English for the majority of the population.

Seems a bit pathetic when stories are written but made unavaiable to the vast majority.
SLG

Aye, they think because they provide some services in Gaelic to the Gaelic-speaking population, that they can ignore the subject altogether in the English speaking news. There is a huge amount of interest in the language amongst non-speakers. In saying that, they do have some articles, but they seem to all revolve around arguments amongst councilors regarding spending on road signs.
Cymro

Don't get me wrong I think the BBC as a whole are good when it comes to services in Gaelic and Welsh. However, they seem to set up services so that they are pretty much preaching to the converted. I don't think this is on purpose but the somewhat patronising attitude that only those who can speak Gaelic and Welsh will be interested in news items involving the languages.

If and real differences are to be made regarding the languages then people need to be made aware of issues involving the language everyday. Even if that includes Councillors moaning about bilingual roads signs! The more debates the better.
SLG

Totally agree Cymro. It's the same argument that have annoyed many people about the agreement for a Gaelic digital channel. Yes it is dedicated Gaelic channel is a good thing, but as part of the deal BBC 1 and BBC2 Scotland and STV/Grampian will be allowed to cut all (or almost all) their Gaelic content. It ghettoises the language in a sense and not good for the language.
Cymro

A very real worry. I think we're getting the right balance here in Wales (at last). We have S4C which obviously is a Welsh language channel - far from perfect but a good step forward and gives us programmes in Welsh. We also have BBC 2W on digital and this has programmes about Wales and the Welsh language through the medium of English.

I feel these two channels have a very important role in reflecting eachother. This is what a Gaelic channel should strive to achieve in my opinion.
Cymro

Quote:
Boost for Gaelic digital channel

Gaelic broadcasting is to receive an extra £3m every year to help establish a Gaelic digital channel.
The Scottish Executive funding will be on top of the £8.7m already given to the service each year.

It is estimated that the channel currently being developed by the Gaelic Media Service (GMS) will cost between £16m and £17m.

The announcement was made by the Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson on a visit to the GMS offices in Stornoway.

Ms Ferguson said Scotland was enriched by the existence of Gaelic and that the executive was committed to creating a sustainable future for the language.

GMS will use the funding to commission a range of programmes to be broadcast when the new channel is launched later this year.

It will also receive an additional £100,000 to purchase the Scottish Media Group (SMG) Gaelic archive which it has built up over a number of years.

Ms Ferguson said: "This funding demonstrates that we are serious about promoting the use of Gaelic in Scotland.

"It also recognises our commitment to Gaelic broadcasting and reflects the importance of the language to our history and culture.

"Gaelic digital television should have a significant impact on the status and use of language, boosting the confidence of Gaelic native speakers and learners.

"It will also build artistic and technical skills and extend economic opportunities."

The minister said GMS and the BBC had made "significant progress" towards delivery of a dedicated Gaelic television service which would complement existing radio and online services already provided by the BBC.

"The acquisition of the huge Gaelic archive held by SMG will be a valuable resource for the new Gaelic digital TV service," she added.

GMS is working in partnership with the BBC to develop the Gaelic digital channel.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6482669.stm

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